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The Fall of Paul Martin and the Rise of Stephen Harper's New Conservatism

The Fall of Paul Martin and the Rise of Stephen Harper's New Conservatism. Shakespeare isn't around to write it -- so we have Paul Wells! Think of it. Two men on an opposite yet parallel trajectory. In the space of only three years, one man, a huge success as the Minister of Finance, goes from his new role as the leader of an all-powerful party with a huge majority all the way down to a retired also-ran. The other one reluctantly steps in to salvage a dying party, links it to another dying party, "unites the right," becomes its leader, goes through trying times, and inside three years rises to become prime minister, against all odds. It's an amazing drama, told here in three acts. First, Paul Wells takes us through all of the events (from Martin's assassination of Chrétien onward) that led up to the election campaign of January 2006. The second act deals with the campaign itself, where the Harper armies conquered, with the assistance of an RCMP cavalry raid, and less-than-brilliant opposing campaigns: "We're not allowed to make this stuff up." Full of new, amazing inside details. The final part answers the What now? that so many Canadians are asking about Stephen Harper's "new conservatism." Nobody can answer that question better than Paul Wells. This book launches Paul Wells's career as an author. To many, this young journalist is likely to be the new Peter C. Newman, and this book -- witty, irreverent, opinionated, personal, and very, very funny -- will stake his claim to that title.

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This is a fun book to read, and not just for political junkies. Wells has a knack for outrageously accurate adjectives, sound bites that impale his victims, and he uses them on those around Martin, Day and Harper with obvious glee. It's also an insightful view of a decade that started with seemingly invincible Liberals laughing at PCs without official party status and ended close to the other way around. Highly recommended.

Well-written and undoubtedly well-researched, but oh my aren't many of our politicians and their activities just so boring? Or maybe it's me but I just couldn't get excited about it. Much of their activities just seemed so petty. Of course, now that our provincial politicians are even thinking about considering things like Shia Law and Faith-based schools, I'm a little more attentive.